* Due to a current restructuring process within the Council, we can currently only offer short-term contracts of three months for all vacancies other than in Duty and Assessment, although there is likely to be the opportunity to move from a short-term contract to a permanent contract in the future.

Social Workers - Frontline Children's Teams

We can offer you:-

Regular supervision, twice-annual appraisals and a thorough training package and many opportunities to develop your career.

A supportive working environment in a stable team staffed with permanent social workers and managers in a well resourced environment.

Good multi - agency working with close links to children's centres, schools, the PCT and the voluntary sector within each locality. The teams work closely with the Action For Children run family centre service which undertakes contact, family outreach and parenting assessments and with the Westminster Children's Society with whom we have 150 sponsored day nursery places for children in need.

Duty and Assessment Team

We are looking for committed Social Workers to join our Assessment Team, and help to provide a quick and effective response to all referrals of concern for children across the borough.

The team consists of the Service Manager, 4 Deputy Service Managers, 6 Senior Practitioners, 9 Social Workers, 3 Social Work Assistants, 4 Business Support Officers, and 2 Housing and Welfare Rights Advisors.

We are a high performing team, taking immediate action when children are at risk and completing over 80% of our assessments within timescales. We emphasise teamwork and virtually every member of the team is on a permanent contract.

The team takes the lead in a number of developments with the multi-agency network to improve the effectiveness of services for children, which also provides good opportunities for career development.

For an informal discussion contact the Service Manager, Lucy Titheridge on 0207 641 1616.

Child Protection Teams

We need highly motivated Social Workers to join our 2 Child Protection Teams. You would be contributing to providing a responsive service to vulnerable children in the community, safeguarding children at risk who have Protection Plans and leading cases through care proceedings.

The teams have set high standards in performance with exceptionally high levels of Core Assessments, LAC reviews and child protection conferences being completed on time. We ensure all children in need of safeguarding and being looked after are allocated.

Each team consists of the Service Manager, 2 Deputy Service Managers, 10 Senior Practitioners and Social Workers, and 2 Social Work Assistants.

A team philosophy which believes that social workers can deliver more effective long term interventions when they have the time to build up a managed and balanced caseload of care proceedings, child protection and family support cases.

Support in care proceedings through sound, consistent legal advice from our contracted providers, Creighton's and good forensic parenting assessments from our contracted service at the Marlborough Family Service.

For an informal discussion contact Blaithin Hamill, NW Service Manager, on 0207 641 3911, or Clifford Parris, NE and S Service Manager, on 0207 641 7673.

Locality Children's Services

We have developed 3 Locality Children's Services to work closely with Children's Centres and Locality Young People's Services to focus on the early identification of need and early intervention. The Teams integrate Social Workers alongside Education Welfare Officers, Parenting Workers, and will soon be joined by Targeted Health Visitors.

The Social Workers carry caseloads of Children In Need cases and contribute to developing an innovative approach to partnership working which is centred on working more closely with Children's Centres, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Youth Projects and GP Practices.

This is a chance to be part of an exciting new development that demonstratesWestminster 's commitment to integrated working and early intervention.

For an informal discussion contact Helen Farrell, NW Locality Manager, on 0207 641 5341, Ingrid Fisher, NE Locality Manager on 0207 641 7494, or Melanie Goode, S Locality Manager on 0207 641 7635.

Essential Skills/Experience:
DipSW
GSCC Registration
Knowledge of children act 1989 and 2002
Knowledge of Assessment Framework
Experience of working with children and families

Benefits include:
Interest free season ticket loan
Generous annual leave
Flexible working hours
Free swimming facilities
Excellent pension scheme

These posts are subject to CRB enhanced/POVA checks.

Westminster City Council encourages flexible working practices.